Means for making tubes of celluloid and the like



y 1931. s. A. NEIDICH 1,804,023

MEANS FOR MAKING TUBES OF CELLULOID AND THE LIKE Fi led Jan. 18, 1929 Patented May 1931 UNITED ST-ATIES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR MAKING TUBES OF CELLULOID AND THE LIKE Application filed January 18, 1929. Serial No. 333,354.

other, while moistened with a suitable s0lvent. For instance, acetone 1s a suitable solvent for celluloid and cellulose nitrate, and ethyl acetate,or a mixture of alcohol and ether, for cellulose acetate.

It has been proposed to efiect such rolling operation while the mandrel and the sheet of material being wound thereon are maintained submerged in the solvent. However,

such a method of manufacture is extremely wasteful in that a large percentage of the sheet material is dissolved off into the solvent bath. As the celluloid from which such articles are formed costs as much as $2.50 for a single commercial sheet .01" X X 50", it

is obvious that such loss is very important as far as raw material is concerned. Moreover, the cellulose product thus dissolved I into the bath instantly and progressively deprives the latter of its initial efficiency, so

that it must be frequently renewed or purified to maintain the degree of efliciency required for the rolling operation.

Therefore, the purpose and effect of this invention is to provide a method and means for forming tubes of celluloid and the like by rolling a primarily plane sheet of such material to cylindrical form; alternately submerging the initial end of said sheet in a bath including a solvent of the sheet material, and draining said solvent from the rolled tube, while maintaining the axis of rotation of the tube stationary. As hereinafter described, such alternate submersion and emersion is effected by raising and lowering the level of said solvent bath with respect to said axis of rotation. Moreover, as hereinafter described, my invention includes a method and means wherein each sheet, in succession, may be wet with fresh solvent; the bat-h container being provided with valve means which are alternately operative, in

coordinate relation, to drain and refill said container.

My invention includes the various novel features of procedure and apparatus hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a transverse sectional view of a machine for forming cylindrical tubes by rolling a primarily plane sheetof cellulose product.

Fig. II is a transverse sectional view of a machine embodying a modified form of my invention.

Fig. III is a perspective view of a sheet of the material aforesaid attached to a mandrel adapted for temporary engagement in either of said machines.

In said figures; a sheet of suitable material 1 is attached at. its lower end upon a mandrel 2 which is conveniently flattened at its end 3 for engagement in a head stock 5 7 provided with a manually operative crank handle 6, or any other means by which it may be rotated, The opposite end 8 of said mandrel is detachably fitted in a tail stock 9, in axial alinement with said head stock. One of said stocks may be axially adjustable and spring pressed toward the other, so that the operator may move one of said stocks to insert and remove a succession of mandrels provided with sheets as in Fig. III.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. I; the solvent bath 10 is held in the container 11, conveniently a rectangular box of Monel metal, having the conduit 12 extending from the bottom thereof and' provided with the valve 13' by which it may be controlled. Said container 11 is charged with such a volume of liquid that the upper level of the bath 10, (conveniently determined by the position of the overflow con-' duit'14,) is above the mandrel and rolled sheet thereon, when the apparatus is in the position indicated in Fig. I, which is during each tube winding operation, when it is desired to moisten the sheet 1 with the solvent 10, so as to insure the coherence of the successive convolutions in the tube.

To emerge the mandrel and tube rolled thereon, so that they may be conveniently removed, and another mandrel and attached sheet, as in Fig. III, be inserted; I provide said container 11 with the bath port 15 in communication with the pair of hollow trunnions l6 and conduit arms 17, respectively at opposite ends of said container 11, in rigid relation with the auxiliary reservoir 18; so that when said reservoir 18is turned upon the trunnions 16, to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. I; a portion of the solvent liquid bath 1O drains out from the container 11 into the reservoir 18, fromwhich the air escapes thru the Vent 19.

I find it convenient to shift said reservoir 18 as above contemplated, by the connector 20 which is pivoted to one of said arms 17, at 21. The lower end of said connector 20 is pivoted at 22 to the operating lever 23 which is fulcrumed at 24, conveniently beneath the bench 25 upon which the container 11 is supported, and in such position as to be operated by the hand or foot of the operator, if desired. Said lever 23 is conveniently provided with the tension spring 27 by which the reservoir 18 is upheld in the position shown in full lines in Fig. I when said lever 23 is released.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Fig. IIgsuccessive baths of solvent liquid 28 are supplied thru the conduit 29;

' measured in the trap 30; and received in and drained from the container 31 respectively thru the conduits 32 and 33 under control of the respective valves 34 and 35, and the over flow conduit 36. I find it convenient to couple said valves by the 'rod 37 operatively con nected with the lever 38; whereby said valves 'may be simultaneously operatedto alternately T drain and recharge said container 31. Said valves 34 and 35-are preferably so set upon said rod 37 that they may both be held in closed position by the spring 40 when said lever 38 is released so that it may come against the stop 41. I

It is to be understood that the construct-ion and arrangement last above described are such that when the valve 34 is opened, the container 31 is charged'with'the bath 30 to the I level 42, thus submerging the initial end of the sheet 1 and the mandrel 2 and, that the solblisters and consequent air inclusions in the wall of the tube being formed. In order to facilitate the charging and draining of the containers aforesaid, I find it desirable to introduce the fresh solvent liquid under pressure and to forcibly exhaust the stale liquid.

Of course, said mandrels 2 may be inserted with the sheets 1 pendent in the solvent, and the tubes to be wound out of the solvent; the levels of the baths being shifted up and down accordingly; and drainage of the bath containers may proceed during a tube winding operation.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement or procedure herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein Without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for forming tubes of celluloid and the like; including a mandrel holder for such material; a bath of solvent of such material, beneath said holder; and means ar-,

ranged to alternately raise and lower the' level of said bath, and thereby alternately submerge and emerge said holder.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1; including means constructed and arranged to alternately add and subtract liquid, with respect to said bath.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1; including means constructed and arranged to alternately increase and diminish the volume of said ath.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1; including means constructed and arranged to alternately subtract stale liquid and add fresh liquid with respect to said bath. 1

5. Apparatus as in claim 1; including a container for the bath, and means arranged to alternately drain said container and charge it with fresh solvent liquid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey,

vent material may be drained, from the mandrel 2 and the sheet wound thereon, by opening saidvalve 35; the valve 34 being contemporaneously close It is to be understood that either of the forms of my invention above described may be operated to wet each sheet in succession with a fresh liquid solvent bath and thus insure coherence of the successive convolutions of each sheet as it is wound upon the mandrel. That is advantageous; because the effect of using a stale solvent bath, i. e., a bath which has become charged with solute from the sheet material, is that portions of o the contiguous surfaces of the sheet wound upon the mandrel are not sufiiciently softened to cohere and, therefore,

separate and form I 

